'We NEED fairness!' British MEP demands the UK call EU's bluff over a 'no deal' Brexit
BRITISH MEP Jonathan Arnott furiously hit out at the European Union and demanded Britain call the bloc’s bluff over a “no deal” Brexit scenario.
The Ukip MEP for the North East of England said Britain needs “something back in return” following the EU’s refusal to move on to trade talks.
Mr Arnott said the UK is the only party “giving” in Brexit talks and the European Union are doing nothing but “taking”. He said: “That’s not what give and take is supposed to be all about.”
Mr Arnott said a “no deal” Brexit would be a “bad outcome” for both the UK and the European Union, adding Britain should call the EU’s bluff over a “no deal” scenario.
Appearing on RT UK, Mr Arnott said: “We need to see some movement on the other side. We need to see some compromise. We need to see some give and take.
Getty/RT UK
“But the starting basis position is that there is no legal obligation for the UK to pay the European Union anything significant at all.
“So, without a legal obligation, every concession that the UK makes must be a concession with something coming back and the UK needs to send that message very clearly and very firmly and basically call the EU’s bluff on a no deal scenario.
“Because that isn’t in the UK’s interest – agreed – but it’s not in the European Union’s interest either. What we want is a little bit of fairness in this negotiation process.”
The EU has refused to move on to trade talks until progress is made on key Brexit issues – including the Irish border, the Brexit financial settlement and citizens’ rights.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said there can be no decision on Irish border issue until the UK and the EU have a trade agreement in place.
EU diplomats have also said Theresa May’s £36billion Brexit divorce bill offer is not enough to move negotiations to phase two.
But the British MEP said the UK has no legal obligation to pay the Brexit divorce bill.
Mr Arnott refused to put a figure on the financial settlement. He said: “You can’t talk money unless you know what the response is going to be from the European Union on trade because what Theresa May is being asked to do now is to give the money with no guarantee of anything in return and that’s where there’s a big problem."
